Las Cruces robotics team earns top FIRST award, advances to Texas district competition
Project NEO Robotics of Las Cruces won the FIRST Impact Award in Fort Worth, earning a spot in the 2026 district competition in Houston.
Project NEO wins prestigious Impact Award at Fort Worth event, securing spot in Houston competition
Organ Mountain News report
LAS CRUCES - Project NEO Robotics won the FIRST Impact Award at a FIRST Robotics Competition event in Fort Worth, Texas, last week, earning the program’s top honor and a berth in the 2026 district competition in Houston.
The FIRST Impact Award is considered the most prestigious recognition in the FIRST Robotics Competition program, which promotes science, technology, engineering and math education through team-based robotics challenges.
The award automatically qualifies Project NEO for the FIRST in Texas 2026 District competition in Houston.
Project NEO began in a mentor’s garage in 2003 and has grown into New Mexico’s longest-running FIRST Robotics Competition team. The program is open to all Las Cruces high school students and homeschoolers, regardless of prior experience.
Students in the program design, machine, assemble, program and operate robots for competitive events.
Project NEO is sponsored by NASA, Boeing and Las Cruces Public Schools.
Team leaders said their Impact Award submission focused on expanding STEM opportunities across New Mexico. Efforts highlighted in the award include helping establish robotics teams at most Las Cruces high schools and supporting teams in other communities statewide.
The group has also worked to expand access to local competitions and develop a Robotics Excellence Center in Las Cruces to provide teams with space to collaborate and train.
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